Arch support



Jan. 25, 1938. c, AHRQNHEIM 2,106,202

ARCH SUPPORT Fil ed Nov. 14, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 .272 yen 5'01" 7 0/2 arleo" Ah ran/zez'm lit-5415 Jan. 25, 1938. c. AHRONHEIM ARCH SUPPORT Filed Nov. 14, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I i H I My IIIIIIIIIII'IIIIIIII'IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII In z/en 2'0? Charla: Ahrorz/zeim Jan. 25, 1938. c AHRONHEIM 2,106,202

ARCH SUPPORT Filed Nov. 14, 1936 s Sheets-Sheet s In 1/ en 2 02 Clzarles jlhrarz/zeim Patented Jan. 25, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,106,202 ARCH sUPPo-n'T Application November 14, 1936, Serial No. 110,902

10 Claims,

This invention relates to arch supports.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved arch support which is relatively simple and inexpensive in construction and efiicient in use.

The mechanics of the operation of walking may be divided, roughly, into three parts: At first the human foot, as is well known, comes down upon the heel, onto which the entire weight of the body is first delivered, then the entire weight of the body is shifted to the outside of the front part of the foot, and finally a part, less than all, of the entire weight of the body is transferred to the inside of the front part of the foot, at the end of the walking operation, which is thus divided, roughly, into this three-stage operation.

In the case of people who have a tendency toward fiat feet or fallen arches this defect originates at the first stage of the walking operation, that is, when the entire weight of the body is first brought down upon the heel and it carries through each of the two succeeding stages, stated above. Various attempts have heretofore been made to correct this difficulty, that is, to prevent and correct the tendency of many people to develop fiat feet or fallen arches, such as by the use of both rigid and resilient heels and both resilient and rigid arch supports, but these attempts have been concerned, insofar as I am aware, large- 30 ly if not entirely, with the first and second stages of the walking operation to which reference has been made above, and none of the prior art attempts have, insofar as I am aware, been concerned with the third and final stage in the walking operation and in which a part of the weight of the body is transferred or rolled from the outside of the front part of the foot to the inside of the same. The present invention, therefore, while concerned with the provision of an arch support which is designed generally for the prevention and correction of fallen arches or fiat feet is especially concerned with the provision of an arch support which will function to conform with the mechanics of the walking op eration itself and to prevent and correct this trouble at the second and third stages in the walking operation itself, that is, when the weight of the body is first transferred to the outside of the front part or ball of the foot and is then transferred or rolled, in part, to the inside of the same.

It may be added that the condition known as flat feet or fallen arches is caused, in general, by the weakening of the muscles of the foot which support the bones which form both the longitudinal and the transverse or metatarsal arches of the foot, and the proper treatment for the correction and prevention of fallen arches or fiat feet consists, essentially, in providing an arch support which will massage these muscles during the second and third of the above-mentioned stages of the walking operation, and which will also support these arches and prevent the same from flattening out during the walking operation.

Another object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide an arch support which will, during the first and second stages of the walking operation, massage the muscles of the foot which hold or support the bones of the longitudinal arch and which will also massage the muscles which hold or support the bones of the transverse or metatarsal arch.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an arch support which is not only resilient, or yieldable, under the weight of the body, as other prior art arch supports have been, but which will, by exerting an upward pressure on the same during the third stage of the walking operation, massage those muscles of the foot which'hold or support the bones of the longitudinal arch and which will also, by exerting an upward pressure upon the second, third and fourth metatarsal bones during the walking operation, massage those muscles of the foot which hold or support the bones of the transverse or metatarsal arch.

Still another object of the'present invention is to provide an arch support which is simple and inexpensive in construction and which may be readily used with various types of shoes and either as an insert in, that is, as an insole, or built into, the same.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide, in a removable form of the new arch support, a novel device which functions both as a latch for latching the arch support in position'of use to the insole and also as a brace for the same.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved arch support which is especially designed for use by people whose weight is considerably above average and by people, such as policemen, mail carriers and barbers, whose work requires them to stand, or be on their feet, for long periods at a time.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing v the preferred form of construction, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of the new arch support, that is, of the support for the longitudinal arch of the foot, as seen separate, or detached, from a shoe into which it may be built, as well as from a casing or insole into which it may be inserted;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the arch support or supporting unit shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the arch support or arch-supporting unit shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and is taken on line 3--3 in Fig. l

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal central sectional view of the arch support shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and is taken on line 4-4 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view showing the arch support or arch-supporting unit which is shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive arranged in a pocket which is formed in a casing or insole and showing the new supporting unit for the transverse or metatarsal arch likewise arranged in a pocket which is formed in the said casing or insole;

Fig. 6 is a. longitudinal central sectional view showing the new arch support, which is shown in Fig. 5, arranged in a shoe of conventional de- Slgn;

Fig. '7 is a transverse vertical sectional view, on line I'I in Fig. 5, showing the new arch-supporting unit for the transverse or metatarsal arch of the foot, and showing the same arranged in a pocket which is provided therefor in the casing or insole which is shown in Figs. 5 and 6;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the new archsupporting unit for the transverse or metatarsal arch and showing the same removed from the pocket in which the same is shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7;

Fig. 9 is a bottom plan view of a modified form of thenew arch support and showing the same as especially designed for use as an insert in articles of footwear;

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional detail view showing certain parts of the arch support shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing certain parts of the arch support which are shown in Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a transverse sectional detail view on line I2--I2 in Fig. 9, of the metatarsal arch-supporting unit which is embodied in the arch support shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 13 is a top plan View of the upper resilient member which is embodied in the arch-supporting unit shown in Figs. 9 to 11 inclusive; and

Fig. 14. is a top plan View of the lower resilient member or main brace which is embodied in the form of the arch-supporting unit shown in Figs. 9 to- 11 inclusive.

A preferred form of one unit of the new longitudinal arch supporting unit is shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive of the drawings, and said unit is therein generally indicated at I5. This unit I5 consists, essentially, of an upper resilient member I6 and a lower resilient member I'I, both of which are formed of resilient material which is preferably, but not necessarily, metal, and for this purpose resilient or so-called spring steel is well suited. The two resilient members or pieces I6 and Il are arranged one above the other in the order named, and are curved lengthwise. or axially so as to form a support for the longitudinal arch of the human foot, and when in position of use the lower piece or member I! forms, in effect, a brace for the upper piece or member I6.

The two resilient members or pieces I6 and I"! of the longitudinal arch supporting unit 55 are detachably held against separation, by means of crimped edges or depending flanges I8 and I9 which are formed in the front and rear end portions, respectively, of the upper piece I8 and which receive corresponding front and rear end portions 20 and 2 I, respectively, of the lower piece or brace H; the said pieces II; and I? being latched or held against lateral movement relative to each other by means of a crimped edge portion or upstanding flange 22 which is formed on the lower piece or brace IT, at the outer side or marginal edge of the latter, and which receives a corresponding edge portion 22 of the upper piece or member I6.

It will be noted, by reference to Figs. 2, 3 and 5 of the drawings, that the upper piece or resilient member I6 is considerably wider than the resilient lower member or brace 51, this diifercnce being represented by an inner marginal edge portion 24 of the resilient upper piece or member it which projects over and beyond the inner marginal edge 25 of the resilient lower piece or brace H (see Figs. 2, 3 and 5).

In the use of the new longitudinal arch-supporting unit I5 the same may be arranged in a pocket 26 which is formed in a casing or insole TI, the said casing or insole 21 being preferably formed of relatively soft material such, for example, as leather or the like, and the pocket 26 is provided with an opening at the front end thereof through which the said arch-supporting unit I5 may be inserted into the same.

The present invention also provides a resilient support or supporting unit for the transverse or metatarsal arch of the foot and this transverse arch support or supporting unit is generally indicated at 28 and consists of a piece of resilient material 29 which is preferably formed of resilient metal such, for example, as so-called spring steel or the like. This supporting member 29 is arched upwardly and is preferably arranged in a pocket 3i) which is formed in the front end portion of the casing or insole 27, this pocket 38 extending transversely of the said insole or casing 27 and having an opening 3i at one end thereof through which the said metatarsal arch supporting member 29 may be inserted into the pocket 30.

In the use of the longitudinal and metatarsal arch-supporting units I 5 and 28, respectively, the former may be inserted into the pocket 26 in the insole or casing 27, through the open front end of the said pocket 25, and the. transverse or metatarsal arch-supporting unit 23 may be inserted into the pocket 30 through the opening 3 I, whereupon the insole or casing 2'3, with the said archsupporting units I5 and 28 arranged in their respective pockets 2?. and 38, may be inserted into a shoe 32, it being understood that the insole or casing 21 and the shoe 32 shown in the drawings are of conventional design and that the shape and design of the insole or casing 2'3, as well as of the shoe 32, will be made to conform to the size and requirements of various individuals, and of both men and women.

It may be noted, at this point, that the archsupporting units I5 and 28 shown in Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive, and thus far described may be used in conjunction with an insole or casing 271', as an insert, or they, and either of them, may be built into a shoe and as a permanent installation in the same, whereas the modified form of archsupporting unit shown in Figs. 9 to 14 is intended to be used as an insert in a shoe or other article of footwear and not as a permanent installation in the same.

When the arch-supporting unit I5 is in use it functions to support the longitudinal or main arch of the foot and, at the same time, it gently massages and exercises those muscles which support the bones which form the longitudinal arch; this being accomplished during both the second and third stages of the walking operation, that is, both of the resilient members It and I7 yield or flex when the entire weight of the.

wearers body is placed on the outside of the foot, during the second stage of the walking operation, and both of these resilient members also yield or flex during the third stage of the walking operation, that is, when less than the entire weight of the wearers body is placed on the inside of the foot. It is to be noted, however, that by reason of the fact that less than the entire weight of the wearers body is thrown upon the inside of the foot during the third stage of the Walking operation whereas the entire weight of the body is thrown upon the outside of the foot during the second stage of the same, the upper member N5 of the arch-supporting unit I5 is not supported by the brace ll throughout its entire bottom surface or area, thereby enabling the upper member Hi to flex and yield, throughout its inner marginal edge portion 24, during the aforesaid third stage of the walking operation. This also enables the members l6 and I! tomassage or exercise the muscles which support the bones of the longitudinal arch of the foot uniformly during both the second and third stages of the walking operation which is not done by other resilient or stiff arch supports with which applicant is familiar and which make no allowance for the fact that less than the entire weight of the wearers body is thrown onto the inside of the foot during the third and final stage of the walking operation whereas the entire weight of the body is thrown upon the outer side of the foot during the second stage of the walkingoperation. By reason of this fact rigid or stiff arch supports are useless to correct or prevent flat feet or fallen arches since they can not, at any time, massage or exercise those muscles of the foot which support the bones of the longitudinal and transverse arches, and this exercising of these muscles is absolutely essential to both the correction and prevention of this condition. Furthermore, other resilient arch supports with which I am familiar are also unable to correct this condition because they either yield too far when the entire weight of the wearers body is thrown onto the outer side of the foot, during the second stage of the walking operation, or else they do not yield far enough, but, in any event, none of the other resilient arch supports with which I am familiar yields difierentially, that is, throughout the outer marginal edge portion of the arch support when the entire weight of the body is thrown upon this part of the foot during the second stage of the walking operation and then, approximately to the same extent, throughout the inner marginal edge portion of the arch support when less than the entire weight of the body is thrown on this part of the foot during the third stage of the walking operation. This is so because none of the other resilient arch supports with which I am familiar provides less support, (that is, an unbraced support) along the inner marginal edge portion of the arch support than is provided along the outer marginal edge of the same. Hence, the new archsupporting unit l5 flexes differentially, that is, to about the same extent or degree at both longitudinal sides of the same and thus accommodates itself to the varying or different amounts of the wearers weight which are placed thereon, and

hence the new arch support gently massages and exercises those muscles ofthe foot which support the bones in the longitudinal arch of the same during both the second and third stages of the walking operation. It will be seen, therefore, that the new arch-supporting unit is thus so constructed that it will accomplish what an arch support must do in order to correct and prevent fiat feet or fallen arches, that is, gently massage those muscles which support the bones of the longitudinal arch, during the operation of walking, and both when the entire weight of the body is placed on the outer side of the foot, during the second stage of the Walking operation, and when less than the entire weight of the body is placed upon the inner side of the foot during the third stage of the walking operation.

It will also be noted that in the use of the present invention the metatarsal or transverse arch supporting unit 2829 functions both when the entire weight of the body is first placed upon the outer side of the foot, during the second stage of the walking operation, and also when less than the entire weight of the body is placed upon the inner side of the foot, during the third stage of the walking operation, that is, the resilient arch-supporting member 259, being arched transversely of the foot extends under and lifts upwardly upon the second, third and fourth metatarsal bones of the metatarsal arch, and flexes when the weight of the body is placed thereon, as explained above, thereby causing a gentle lifting action against the bones of the metatarsal arch, thus massaging those muscles which support the bones of the transverse or metatarsal arch. In this manner the metatarsal arch support 28 overcomes the weakness in, or fallen condition of, the metatarsal arch and this is not accomplished by other metatarsal arch supports with which applicant is familiar, including sponge rubber pads and stiff metatarsal arch supports, for the reason that these supports do not exercise or massage those muscles which support the bones of the metatarsal arch and weakness or a weakened condition of which muscles is responsible for the weakness or fallen condition of this arch. Hence, it will be seen that the present metatarsal arch support will effectively perform its intended function, while being simple and inexpensive in construction and easy and simple to install.

It will also be noted that both the longitudinal arch-supporting unit l5 and the metatarsal arch supporting unit 28-49 of the new arch-supporting unit are not fixed in their respective pockets 26 and 30 but are free to move or yield slightly therein, that is, in a direction parallel to the long axis of the casing or insole 2?], thus allowing the said arch-supporting units to give slightly under the forward thrust or force exerted there on during the walking operation, and, in this manner, relieving and minimizing the shock upon both arches of the wearers foot.

A modified form of the new arch support is shown in Figs. 9 to 14, inclusive, is therein generally indicated at 33, and comprises a pad or insole 34 which may be inserted into a shoe or' other article of footwear, and which pad or insole maybe made of leather or other suitable material.

Formed in the front end portion of the pad or insole 34 is a pocket 35 which extends transversely oi the long axis of the insole 33, and this pocket 35 has an open end 35 through which a resilient member 37 may be inserted into the pocket 35; said member 31 being adapted to support the metatarsal or transverse arch of the foot and being of the same design, type and construction as the member 29 which is illustrated in Fig. 8.

The new arch support 33 comprises a longitudinal arch-supporting unit 38 and this archsupporting unit 38 includes an upper resilient member 33 and a lower resilient member 43 both of which are preferably made of resilient metal for which so-cailed spring steel is desired. Both of these members 39 and 40 are arched longitudinally (Fig. 10) so as to conform, in general, to the longitudinal arch of the foot. These members 39 and 45 are constructed, relative to each other, like the members it and ii, respectively, of the arch-supporting unit i5, that is, the lower member 55 extends under, and acts as a brace for, the upper member 38 throughout the central and outer (lower portion, Fig. 9) marginal edge portions of the said upper member 39 but leaves the latter unsupported along the inner marginal edge portion of the same (upper edge portion, Fig. 9), for reasons hereinbefore explained relative to the arch-supporting unit 45.

Arranged below the lower member or brace 53 is a second and auxiliary brace 42 which is preferably made of a thin piece of resilient metal which is substantially rectangular in shape, this auxiliary brace 42 being, therefore, relatively very narrow compared tothe main brace 43 and the member 39 (Figs. 9 and 11).

The auxiliary brace 42 is pivotally connected by means of a pintle 4-3 with the insole or pad 34, this pintle 43 being mounted in, and carried by, the upper member 39 and being projected downwardly through a slot 44 which is formed in the rear end portion of the auxiliary brace 32 (Fig. 11). Likewise provided in the auxiliary brace 42, on the front end portion of the same, is a second slot 45 and projecting downwardly through this slot 45 is a. latch key 45 which is carried by, and is formed in, the member 49.

Provided in the marginal edge portion of the member 48, at the front of the latter, is a notch and also formed in the marginal edge of the member 43, at the rear thereof, is a. notch 58.

Mounted in, and depending from, the members are two pins or stops 5!} and 5! which are arranged adjacent the peripheral edge of the member 39 and at the front and rear ends of the same, respectively, these stops 5E) and 5! being adapted to be engaged by the inner marginal edge 52 of the lower member or brace 4-3.

Slidably mounted upon the auxiliary brace 42 is a sleeve 53, which may be made of leather or the like, and formed in this sleeve 53 is an opening 53 which is adapted to fit over, and to receive, the latch or key 46. Likewise slidably mounted upon the brace 42 is a sleeve 55 which is provided with an opening 58 which is adapted to fit over, and to receive, the pintle 53.

In the use of the new arch support which is shown in Figs. 9 to 14 inclusive the metatarsal arch-supporting unit 31 may be arranged in its pocket 35 by inserting the same into the latter through the opening 36 therein, whereupon, when the pad or insole 34 is arranged in a shoe or other article of footwear, the said metatarsal arch support 31 will function, in the manner hereinbefore described with reference to the member 29 (Fig. 8), to support the metatarsal arch and to massage the muscles which support the bones of the same.

The manner of assembling the archsupporting unit 38 is as follows: The pad or insole 34 is inverted so that the bottom surface is uppermost, as in Fig. 9, whereupon the members 45 and 39 are arranged one above the other, in the order named, with the pintle 43 projecting through the notch 48 which is formed in the lower member or brace 43. The member 40 is then pivoted about the pintle 48 (clockwise, Fig. 11) until the marginal edge 52 of the same engages the stops 50 and 5|, whereupon the member 40 is pressed downwardly against the member 39 so that the key or latch 46 will project through the notch 41 in the brace or lower member 40. The auxiliary brace 42 is then pivoted about the pintle 43 (clockwise, Fig. 11) until the slot 45 formed therein comes into registration with the latch or key 56, whereupon the latter is turned or rotated a partial revolution so that the head or lower portion of the same extends crosswise of the slot 45 (Fig. 9), thus latching the parts 39, 4E! and 42 together in position of use and to the pad or insole 34. The sleeves 53 and 55 may then be slid along the auxiliary brace 42 until the lower end portions or heads of the latch members 43 and 45 enter the openings 56 and 54, respectively, in the sleeves 55 and 53. The archsupporting unit 38 is thus assembled in position of use and ready to be inserted, with the pad or insole 35, into a shoe or other article of footwear, and when arranged therein it will function in substantially the same manner as the arch-supporting unit 38. It is to be noted, however, that the modified form of arch support which is shown in Figs. 9 to 14 inclusive is especially designed for use as an insert into a shoe or the like, and for use by people whose weight is considerably above average, and by people, such as policemen, mail carriers and barbers whose Work requires them to stand for long periods of time. It is also to be noted, in this connection, that the auxiliary brace 42 provides additional support for the members 39 and 45 of the arch-supporting unit 38, in addition to acting as a part of the means 42 43444il-45--454'i for latching the parts 39 and 4B of the arch-supporting unit 38 upon the pad or insole 38, and hence the arch-supporting unit 38, by reason of this auxiliary brace 42, may be used by people whose weight is considerably above average and for whom the arch-supporting unit l5 might not be sufiiciently strong, as well as by people whose work requires them to stand for a long period of time.

In the use of the new arch support 33 the sleeves 53 and 55 will prevent the wearers foot from being irritated by the metal latches or keys 43 and 45, the lower end portions or heads of which project into the openings 56 and 54, respectively in the sleeves 55 and 53.

The members 39 and 40 may be removed from the pad or insole 34, if so desired, for any reason, such as to substitute a heavier or stronger or lighter pair of the members 39 and 40, this being accomplished by first sliding the sleeve 53 back into the position in which it is shown in Fig. 9, then turning the latch 46 until the lower end portion or head of the same extends parallel to the long axis of the slot 45, then pivoting the auxiliary brace 42, at 43, (counterclockwise, Fig.

9), whereupon the members 39 and 40 may be forced or spread apart slightly so as to remove the key 46 from the notch M. The members 40 may then be separated from the member 39 by removing the notched portion 48, thereof (Fig. 14) from out of engagement with the pintle 43.

It will be noted that the stops or pins 50 and El limit the movement of the lower member or brace Mi, relative to the upper member 39, (clockwise, Figs. 9 and 11), so as to leave the inner marginal edge portion M of the upper member 39 unsupported by the lower member or brace fill along the inner marginal edge portion ll of the upper member 39, for reasons hereinbefore set forth relative to the marginal edge portion 24 of the arch-supporting unit l5.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred forms of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification, without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. An arch-supporting unit for the human foot comprising a resilient upper member and a resilient lower member, the said resilient lower member being arranged below the said resilient upper member and extending throughout substantially less than the entire area or bottom surface of the said upper member but when in position of use making contact throughout substantially its entire upper surface with the bottom surface of said upper member so as to brace the said upper member under and throughout the entire area of the central and outer marginal edge portions of the latter but leaving the same unsupported along the inner marginal edge portion of the same.

2. An arch-supporting unit for the human foot comprising a resilient upper member and a resilient lower member, the said resilient lower member being arranged below the said resilient upper member and extending throughout substantially less than the entire area or bottom surface of the said upper member but when in position of use making contact throughout substantially its entire upper surface with the bottom surface of said upper member so as to brace the said upper member under and throughout the entire area of the central and outer marginal edge portions of the latter but leaving the same unsupported along the inner marginal edge portion of the same, and means for detachably holding the said upper and lower members together.

3. An arch-supporting unit for the human foot comprising a resilient upper member and a resilient lower member, the said resilient lower member being arranged below the said resilient upper member and extending throughout substantially less than the entire area or bottom surface of the said upper member but when in position of use making contact throughout substantially its entire upper surface with the bottom surface of said upper member so as to brace the said upper member under and throughout the entire area of the central and outer marginal edge portion of the latter but leaving the same unsupported along the inner marginal edge portion of the same, and a casing having a pocket formed therein for the reception of the said archsupporting unit.

4. An arch-supporting unit for the human foot comprising a resilient upper member and a resilient lower member, the said resilient lower member being arranged below the said resilient upper member and extending throughout substantially less than the entire area or bottom surface of the said upper member but when in position of use making contact throughout substantially its entire upper surface with the bottom surface of said upper member so as to brace the said upper member under and throughout the entire area of the central and outer marginal edge portions. of the latter but leaving the same unsupported along the inner marginal edge portion of the same, means for detachably holding the said upper and lower members together, and a casing having a pocket formed therein for the reception of the said arch-supporting unit.

5. An arch-supporting unit for the human foot comprising a resilient upper member and a resilient lower member, the said resilient lower member being arranged below the said resilient upper member and extending throughout substantially less than the entire area or bottom surface of the said upper member but when in position of use making contact throughout substantially its entire upper surface with the bottom surface of said upper member so as to brace the said upper member under and throughout the entire area of the central and outer marginal edge portions of the latter but leaving the same unsupported along the inner marginal edge portion of the same, and means for detachably holding the said upper and lower members together, said means including a depending flange or crimped edge formed in the front end portion of the said upper member for the reception of the front end portion of the said lower member, and a depending flange or crimped edge formed in the rear end portion of the said upper member for the reception of the rear end portion of the said lower member.

6. An arch-supporting unit for the human foot comprising a resilient upper member and a resilient lower member, the said resilient lower member being arranged below the said resilient upper member and extending throughout substantially less than the entire area or bottom surface of the said upper member but when in position of use making contact throughout substantially its entire upper surface with the bottom surface of said upper member so as to brace the said upper member under and throughout the entire area of the central and outer marginal edge portions of the latter but leaving the same unsupported along the inner marginal edge portion of the same, and means for detachably latching or holding the said upper and lower members together, said latching means including a depending flange or crimped edge formed in the front end portion of the said upper member for the reception of the front end portion of the said lower member, and a depending flange or crimped edge formed in the rear end portion of the said upper member for the reception of the rear end portion of the said lower member, said latching means including a depending flange or crimped edge formed on the outer marginal edge portion of the said upper member for the reception of a corresponding part of the outer marginal edge portion of the said lower member.

1 7. An arch-supporting unit for the human foot comprising a resilient metal upper member and a resilient metal lower member, the said resilient lower member being arranged below the said resilient upper member and extending throughout substantially less than the entire area or bottom surface of the said upper member but when in position of use making contact throughout substantially its entire upper surface with the bottom surface of said upper member so as to brace the said upper member under and throughout the entire area of the central and outer marginal edge portions of the latter but leaving the same unsupported along the inner marginal edge portion of the same.

8. An arch-supporting unit for the human foot comprising a resilient metal upper member and a resilient metal lower member, the said resilient lower member being arranged below the said resilient upper member and extending throughout substantially less than the entire area or bottom surface of the said upper member but when in position of use making contact throughout substantially its entire upper surface with the bottom surface of said upper member so as to brace the said upper member under and throughout the entire area of the central and outer marginal edge portions of the latter but leaving the same unsupported along the inner marginal edge portion of the same, and means formed integrally with, and as a part, of the said upper member and cooperating with the said lower member to hold the said members together and in position of use.

9. An arch supporting unit for the human foot comprising a pad or insole adapted to be inserted into a shoe or like article of footwear, a resilient upper member and a resilient lower member, the said resilient lower member being arranged below the said resilient upper member and extending throughout substantially less than the entire area or bottom surface of said upper member but when in position of use making contact throughout substantially its entire upper surface with the bottom surface of said upper member so as to brace the said upper member under and throughout the entire area of the central and outer marginal edge portions of the latter but leaving the same unsupported along the inner marginal edge portion of the same, and means for holding the said upper and lower resilient members to the said pad or insole and against movement relative thereto.

10. An arch supporting unit for the human foot comprising a pad or insole adapted to be inserted into a shoe or like article of footwear, a resilient upper member and a resilient lower member, the said resilient lower member being arranged below the said resilient upper member and extending throughout substantially less than the entire area or bottom surface of said upper member but when in position of use making contact throughout substantially its entire upper surface with the bottom surface of said upper member so as to brace the said upper member under and throughout the entire area of the central and outer marginal edge portions of the latter but leaving the same unsupported along the inner marginal edge portion of the same, and means for holding the said upper and lower resilient members together upon the said pad or insole and against movement relative thereto, said means including a brace extending axially of the said lower resilient member below the latter and between the front and rear end portions of the same.

CHARLES AHRONHEIM. 

